𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐚 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐬

𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐚 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐬

The Senate Committee on Education has praised Mombasa County’s advancements in Early Childhood Development (ECD) due to its investment in infrastructure, feeding initiatives, and efforts to promote equitable access to education.

The committee, under the leadership of Chairperson Senator Betty Montet, conducted a visit to the region as part of their comprehensive nationwide oversight tour.

During a briefing with Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir, the senators were apprised that the county currently accommodates over 44,820 ECD learners across 94 public facilities, 24 special needs centers, and 955 registered private institutions.

“We are dedicated to ensuring that every child in Mombasa receives high-quality early education,” stated Nassir.

“The county fully finances ECD learners with an allocation of Sh3,200 per child annually. Parents do not contribute; this is completely funded by the county government,” he elaborated.

The funding is allocated for teaching resources, learning materials, and infrastructure. The governor affirmed that 12 new centers are currently under construction, and two state-of-the-art schools have already been completed at a cost of Sh29 million.

Each of the centers comprises four classrooms, a staff room, sanitation facilities, and a dedicated play area.

However, Taita Taveta Senator Mwashushe Mwaruma promptly sought clarification regarding the consistency of costs, questioning whether Sh29 million represented the standard expenditure for all the centers.

The county officials responded that the mentioned figure encompasses provisions for future expansion, with structures constructed on robust foundations to accommodate anticipated population growth.

The county’s ECD feeding initiative was also brought to attention, whereby 8,000 to 10,000 children receive hot meals daily at a cost of Sh30 per child.

Additionally, the county has engaged 342 ECD teachers, with 210 employed on permanent and pensionable contracts, while the remainder are on temporary agreements.

Nassir noted that many teachers were recruited by the prior administration and that the county is working towards streamlining employment terms, which include salary and medical insurance coverage.

“No child should be deprived of education due to hunger, as this is not merely an occasional initiative; meals are provided on a daily basis,” remarked the governor.

“It is a discussion worth having,” remarked the governor, emphasizing that ECD constitutes the foundation of our education system, and the county is already making substantial investments in the program.

Nassir also delineated how the county has reformed its Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions to align with market needs by introducing new courses in maritime studies to leverage the region’s economic potential.

“We also have ambitious plans to transform the Mtongwe Vocational Training Centre into a Blue Economy Hub that trains and equips individuals with skills beneficial to our Coastal Economy,” he added.

The governor also underscored the county’s initiative for acknowledging prior learning by offering certificates to individuals already engaged in trades, transport, and seafaring.

The senators further inquired how such a comprehensive program could be sustained when vocational training had reportedly not received any budgetary allocation.

The governor clarified that Sh15 million has been earmarked for vocational training, with Sh4 million having already been disbursed.

Among the proposals is the conversion of a swimming pool into a blue economy facility designated for training youth for maritime employment in Mtongwe, Likoni.
Meanwhile, Mombasa County has placed a strong emphasis on sustainable water access by drilling boreholes in 20 schools to ensure that learners have access to clean drinking water.

The county is also undertaking efforts to guarantee that sanitation facilities conform to acceptable standards, particularly in Early Childhood Development (ECD) centers that share premises with primary schools.

Simultaneously, the governor indicated that the county is investing in youth skills through the Skills Mtaani initiative, which encompasses financial literacy and vocational training.

The governor also underscored initiatives aimed at assisting youth in obtaining birth certificates and national identification cards to ensure they are not excluded from educational and employment opportunities.

For their part, the Senate Committee observed that Mombasa is among the counties demonstrating significant progress in the implementation of ECD programs.

“This is our seventh county to visit and we’re impressed,” stated Montet.

“Mombasa is establishing a solid foundation, particularly for those who may not proceed to university. That’s the true strength of devolution,” she remarked.

The committee is anticipated to present a report containing recommendations regarding policy, funding, and employment structure to the Senate.